Cowboys’ Mike McCarthy opens up about dealing with contract situations

Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy acknowledged earlier this summer that working through a so-called "lame-duck" year while in the final season of a contract is "a challenge."

McCarthy once again didn't dance around the issue during a recent conversation with NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, commenting on dealing with contract situations affecting both himself and the team's players.

"All of us have contracts, and it happens," McCarthy explained. "I just learned this at a young point in my head coaching career (with the Green Bay Packers from 2006 through much of the 2018 season) — if you put any more energy into it, then you’re probably wasting time thinking about things that you can’t control. Because you can’t control it. I’ve never really gone sideways with it. What I found is the individuals that are going through contract situations, you’re almost apologetic about it. You’re in this position for a reason. It’s between the employer and the employee."

Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones took care of wide receiver CeeDee Lamb by signing Lamb to a four-year, $136M deal last month. However, Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott remains in the final year of his contract and seemed to take a shot at Jones ahead of the Labor Day holiday weekend.

Some experts are convinced Jones will lock Prescott down either before or during the upcoming regular season , but there's no sign the outspoken owner will hand McCarthy an extension as the Cowboys continue to be linked in stories with former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick. As of late Monday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook listed the Cowboys fourth among the betting favorites at +700 odds to represent the NFC in Super Bowl LIX.

"It’s part of our everyday business," McCarthy added while speaking with Breer. "Going through it 17, 18 years ago, you learn that it’s really part of the ride here. The reality of it is you have to be clear what’s going on with the other players."

Cowboys players will look to ignore outside noise regarding the organization's future as they prepare to open the 2024 season at the Cleveland Browns this coming Sunday. With that said, McCarthy could start to feel the heat as soon as next week if Dallas begins the campaign at 0-1.